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Tobago
Ancient ritual of death from Africa celebrates revival as party event
If you’re aiming high, you should have the bar as low as possible. The rules in limbo are different to normal life. But then, this fun event, which has become part of the standard tourist program in Tobago, has more to do with the afterlife. "It’s actually an ancient African dance for the dead that was only performed at funerals, when I was young," Tobago’s limbo king Arthur Peterkin reveals.
By Bernhard Grdseloff
By Bernhard Grdseloff
Transmission from this world to the beyond: limbo king Arthur Peterkin doing the spiritual dance ...
... and playing music - second CD in process
"Limbo symbolizes the transition stage between this world and the beyond" the folk artist explains. "The flaming cross bar, which you need to pass underneath with your knees first, stands for Death. Once you’ve made it to the other side, you rise to eternal life." The dance is part of the bongo night ceremony where the soul of the deceased is accompanied to another world. Peterkin goes on to explain: "The bongos have their origins in this custom, too."
The athletic 48-year-old began doing the limbo dance as a young man, and he displayed his skills on a world tour. He performed in Switzerland in the 70s, and lived in Germany from 1990 to 1998. At the height of his career, he was able to squeeze under a barely 6 inch high bar. "Now I can only do 8 inches," the artist says with a twinkle in his eye.
Meanwhile his younger brother Ashton (40) does the performances in the hotels, and niece Sophia accompanies him with folk songs and traditional dances. Arthur, however, has turned to making music: he’s in the process of producing his second CD under the artistic name of P King - a mixture of bongo, reggae, socca and shango music.
To be ordered at artpking@hotmail.com
The athletic 48-year-old began doing the limbo dance as a young man, and he displayed his skills on a world tour. He performed in Switzerland in the 70s, and lived in Germany from 1990 to 1998. At the height of his career, he was able to squeeze under a barely 6 inch high bar. "Now I can only do 8 inches," the artist says with a twinkle in his eye.
Meanwhile his younger brother Ashton (40) does the performances in the hotels, and niece Sophia accompanies him with folk songs and traditional dances. Arthur, however, has turned to making music: he’s in the process of producing his second CD under the artistic name of P King - a mixture of bongo, reggae, socca and shango music.
To be ordered at artpking@hotmail.com